Nov 23rd, 2009 by Ross Edwards
Mike Howard of Elk Horn, Iowa, has spent $30,000 installing four electric vehicle chargers in the small town. Elk Horn only has one plug-in electric vehicle though. Howard says the charging stations needed to be built in order for the people of Elk Horn to actually consider buying an electric vehicle, just like the pony express needed mail stations built in order to bring the mail to western settlers.
“They had to have stations to continue on to deliver the mail,” Howard told the Associated Press. “This is a modern-day Pony Express.”
Eventually, Mike Howard hopes to create a series of charging stations between Denver and Chicago. Next year he’ll be building four more EV charging stations near Elk Horn, at a cost of about $50,000. That may sound like a lot, but for the price of a Corvette, Mike Howard will be moving America toward cleaner energy that can be produced here. Even if he doesn’t break even on the EV charging stations, Howard deserves praise for spending his money helping America move toward electric cars.
Right now, the only electric vehicle in Elk Horn is a converted Chevrolet S10 that Howard built for a customer through his shop, but when the electric Nissan Leaf hits dealers next year, you can be sure that Elk Horn residents are going to give it a second look.
Mike Howard (left) stands next to Elk Horn's only electric vehicle, a Chevrolet S10 that he converted for a customer.
Photo Via AP.
Protect your vehicle with an extended warranty! Get a fast free quote on affordable extended warranties for used and new cars here! 
Don't forget to factor insurance costs into your research. Get accurate insurance rate information on any vehicle and shop for the best deal.
Get real price quotes from local dealerships. Don't buy a car without checking the price first! Pit dealers against each other to get the best deal possible!
{/literal}